Learning Outcomes

Walden’s M.S.Ed. program incorporates a series of academic requirements, or milestones, designed to ensure that you have acquired the necessary competencies and expertise to be a more effective education professional. At each milestone, progress within the program will be evaluated using assessments that align with national professional standards or overall learning outcomes established by the college.  Walden’s faculty will help you master core concepts and principles, while student support services can provide additional academic, advising, and technical assistance. Successful advancement beyond each milestone helps to ensure that you have the knowledge and skills to make a positive impact in your professional field.

Graduates of this program will be prepared to:

1. Treat students equitably, recognizing the individual differences that distinguish one student from another and adjusting their practice based on observation and knowledge of their students' interests, abilities, skills, knowledge, family circumstances, and peer relationships.
2. Create multiple paths to the subjects they teach, through their knowledge of how the subject is created, organized, linked to other disciplines, and applied to real-world settings.
3. Manage and monitor student learning to create, enrich, maintain, and alter instructional settings to capture and sustain the interest of their students and to make the most effective use of time.
4. Draw on knowledge of human development, subject matter and instruction, and understanding of students to make principled judgments about sound practice.
5. Contribute to the effectiveness of the school by working collaboratively with families, community, and other professionals on instructional policy, curriculum development, and staff development.

Specialization Learning Outcomes
Adolescent Literacy and Technology (Grades 6–12) Specialization
Elementary Reading and Literacy (PreK–6) Specialization
Elementary Reading and Mathematics (Grades K–6) Specialization
Integrating Technology in the Classroom (Grades K–12) Specialization
Literacy and Learning in the Content Areas (Grades 6–12) Specialization
Mathematics (Grades K–5) Specialization
Mathematics (Grades 6–8) Specialization
Middle Level Education (Grades 5–8) Specialization
Science (Grades K–8) Specialization
Special Education Specialization (Non-Licensure)
Teacher Leadership (Grades K–12) Specialization

Additional Learning Outcomes for the Adolescent Literacy and Technology (Grades 6–12) Specialization

Graduates of this program will be prepared to:

1. Use foundational knowledge to design or implement an integrated, comprehensive, and balanced curriculum.
2. Use appropriate and varied instructional approaches, including those that develop word recognition, language comprehension, strategic knowledge, and reading–writing connections.
3. Use a wide range of texts (e.g., narrative, expository, and poetry) from traditional print, digital, and online resources.
4. Design the physical environment to optimize students’ use of traditional print, digital, and online resources in reading and writing instruction.
5. Design a social environment that is low risk and includes choice, motivation, and scaffolded support to optimize students’ opportunities for learning to read and write.
6. Use routines to support reading and writing instruction (e.g., time allocation, transitions from one activity to another, discussions, and peer feedback).
7. Use a variety of classroom configurations (i.e., whole class, small group, and individual) to differentiate instruction.
8. Engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources.
9. Model collaborative knowledge construction by engaging in learning with students, colleagues, and others in face-to-face and virtual environments.
10. Design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity.
11. Develop technology-enriched learning environments that enable all students to pursue their individual curiosities and become active participants in setting their own educational goals, managing their own learning, and assessing their own progress.
12. Design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity.
13. Demonstrate fluency in technology systems and the transfer of current knowledge to new technologies and situations.
14. Model and facilitate effective use of current and emerging digital tools to locate, analyze, evaluate, and use information resources to support research and learning.
15. Advocate, model, and teach safe, legal, and ethical use of digital information and technology, including respect for copyright, intellectual property, and appropriate documentation of sources.
16. Promote and model digital etiquette and responsible social interactions related to the use of technology and information.

Additional Learning Outcomes for the Elementary Reading and Literacy (PreK–6) Specialization

Graduates of this program will be prepared to:

1. Use foundational knowledge to design or implement an integrated, comprehensive, and balanced curriculum.
2. Use appropriate and varied instructional approaches, including those that develop word recognition, language comprehension, strategic knowledge, and reading-writing connections.
3. Use a wide range of texts (e.g., narrative, expository, and poetry) from traditional print, digital, and online resources.
4. Understand various types of assessments and their purposes and strengths and employ them appropriately in their practice.
5. Select, develop, administer, and interpret assessments, both traditional print and electronic, for specific purposes.
6. Use assessment information to plan and evaluate instruction.
7. Communicate assessment results and implications to a variety of audiences.
8. Recognize, understand, and value the forms of diversity that exist in society and their importance in learning to read and write.
9. Use a literacy curriculum and engage in instructional practices that positively impact students’ knowledge, beliefs, and engagement with the features of diversity.
10. Develop and implement strategies to advocate for equity.

Additional Learning Outcomes for the Elementary Reading and Mathematics (Grades K–6) Specialization

Graduates of this program will be prepared to:

1. Enable all students to understand numbers, ways of representing numbers, relationships among numbers, and number systems.
2. Enable all students to analyze characteristics and properties of two- and three-dimensional geometric shapes and develop mathematical arguments about geometric relationships and/or understand measurable attributes of objects and the units, systems, and processes of measurement.
3. Use foundational knowledge to design or implement an integrated, comprehensive, and balanced curriculum.
4. Use appropriate and varied instructional approaches, including those that develop word recognition, language comprehension, strategic knowledge, and reading–writing connections.
5. Use a wide range of texts (e.g., narrative, expository, and poetry) from traditional print, digital, and online resources.
6. Understand types of assessments and their purposes, strengths, and limitations.
7. Select, develop, administer, and interpret assessments, both traditional print and electronic, for specific purposes.
8. Use assessment information to plan and evaluate instruction.
9. Communicate assessment results and implications to a variety of audiences.

Additional Learning Outcomes for the Integrating Technology in the Classroom (Grades K–12) Specialization

Graduates of this program will be prepared to:

1. Design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity.
2. Develop technology-enriched learning environments that enable all students to pursue their individual curiosities and become active participants in setting their own educational goals, managing their own learning, and assessing their own progress.
3. Model and facilitate effective use of current and emerging digital tools to locate, analyze, evaluate, and use information resources to support research and learning.
4. Advocate, model, and teach safe, legal, and ethical use of digital information and technology, including respect for copyright, intellectual property, and appropriate documentation of sources.
5. Promote and model digital etiquette and responsible social interactions related to the use of technology and information.
6. Customize and personalize learning activities to address students' diverse learning styles, working strategies, and abilities using digital tools and resources.
7. Engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources.
8. Model collaborative knowledge construction by engaging in learning with students, colleagues, and others in face-to-face and virtual environments.
9. Demonstrate fluency in technology systems and the transfer of current knowledge to new technologies and situations.

Additional Learning Outcomes for the Literacy and Learning in the Content Areas (Grades 6–12) Specialization

Graduates of this program will be prepared to:

1. Use foundational knowledge to design or implement an integrated, comprehensive, and balanced curriculum.
2. Use appropriate and varied instructional approaches, including those that develop word recognition, language comprehension, strategic knowledge, and reading–writing connections.
3. Use a wide range of texts (e.g., narrative, expository, and poetry) from traditional print, digital, and online resources.
4. Design the physical environment to optimize students’ use of traditional print, digital, and online resources in reading and writing instruction.
5. Design a social environment that is low risk and includes choice, motivation, and scaffolded support to optimize students’ opportunities for learning to read and write.
6. Use routines to support reading and writing instruction (e.g., time allocation, transitions from one activity to another, discussions, and peer feedback).
7. Use a variety of classroom configurations (i.e., whole class, small group, and individual) to differentiate instruction.

Additional Learning Outcomes for the Mathematics (Grades K–5) Specialization

Graduates of this program will be prepared to:

1. Enable all students to understand numbers, ways of representing numbers, relationships among numbers, and number systems.
2. Enable all students to analyze characteristics and properties of two- and three-dimensional geometric shapes and develop mathematical arguments about geometric relationships and/or understand measurable attributes of objects and the units, systems, and processes of measurement.
3. Enable all students to understand patterns, relations and functions; represent and analyze mathematical situations and structures using algebraic symbols; use mathematical models to represent and understand quantitative relationships; and analyze change in various contexts.
4. Enable all students to formulate questions that can be addressed with data and collect, organize, and display relevant data to answer them; select and use statistical methods to analyze data; develop and evaluate inferences and predictions that are based on data; and understand and apply basic concepts of probability.

Additional Learning Outcomes for the Mathematics (Grades 6–8) Specialization

Graduates of this program will be prepared to:

1. Enable all students to understand numbers, ways of representing numbers, relationships among numbers, and number systems.
2. Enable all students to understand patterns, relations, and functions; represent and analyze mathematical situations and structures using algebraic symbols; use mathematical models to represent and understand quantitative relationships; and analyze change in various contexts.
3. Enable all students to analyze characteristics and properties of two- and three-dimensional geometric shapes and develop mathematical arguments about geometric relationships and/or understand measurable attributes of objects and the units, systems, and processes of measurement.
4. Enable all students to formulate questions that can be addressed with data and collect, organize, and display relevant data to answer them; select and use statistical methods to analyze data; develop and evaluate inferences and predictions that are based on data; and understand and apply basic concepts of probability.

Additional Learning Outcomes for the Middle Level Education (Grades 5–8) Specialization

Graduates of this program will be prepared to:

1. Understand and analyze the major concepts, principles, theories, standards, and research related to their teaching field(s) and they apply that knowledge in their practice.
2. Use content knowledge to make interdisciplinary connections.
3. Employ depth and breadth of technologies (e.g., computers, audio, and video presentations).
4. Use teaching and assessment strategies to advance student learning in their teaching fields.
5. Integrate state-of-the-art technologies and literacy skills in their teaching fields.
6. Understand and analyze the major concepts, principles, theories, and research related to effective middle level instruction and assessment and they apply a variety of effective strategies to meet the varying abilities, interests, and learning styles of all young adolescents.
7. Understand and analyze the major concepts, principles, theories, and research related to their professional roles in middle level education and they apply that knowledge in their practice.

Additional Learning Outcomes for the Science (Grades K–8) Specialization

Graduates of this program will be prepared to:

1. Convey the major concepts, principles, theories, laws, and interrelationships of biology and supporting fields.
2. Convey the major concepts, principles, theories, laws, and interrelationships of chemistry, physics, and supporting fields.
3. Convey the major concepts, principles, theories, laws, and interrelationships of earth, space science, and supporting fields.
4. Create interdisciplinary perspectives and help students understand why science is important to them.
5. Interrelate and interpret important concepts, ideas, and applications in science and conduct scientific investigations.
6. Engage students successfully in developmentally appropriate inquiries that require them to develop concepts and relationships from their observations, data, and inferences in a scientific manner.

Additional Learning Outcomes for the Special Education Specialization (Non-Licensure)

Graduates of this program will be prepared to:

1. Advocate for legal and ethical policy that supports high quality education for individuals with exceptional learning needs.
2. Provide leadership through effective communication and use of technology to promote practices and procedures that support and respect all individuals and result in positive, productive work environments.
3. Use educational research to increase expertise, improve instructional and intervention techniques and materials, and foster an environment that supports instructional improvement.
4. Plan, present, and evaluate professional development for self and others that focuses on supporting student access to learning through effective teaching strategies, curriculum standards, and assistive technology.
5. Collaborate with multiple stakeholders to improve instructional programs at the school and systems levels and develop procedures to improve management systems.
6. Create supportive environments that safeguard the legal rights of students and their families.
7. Understand the significance of the role of collaboration and promote understanding, resolve conflicts, and build consensus among both internal and external stakeholders.

Additional Learning Outcomes for the Teacher Leadership (Grades K–12) Specialization

Graduates of this program will be prepared to:

1. Engage students in learning within and across the disciplines and help students understand how the subjects they study can be used to explore important issues in their lives and the world around them.
2. Collaborate with colleagues to improve schools and to advance knowledge and practice in their field.
3. Use a variety of approaches to help students build knowledge and strengthen understanding.
4. Identify skills gaps and preconceptions students may bring to the subject.
5. Use diverse instructional strategies to teach for understanding.
6. Collaborate with others to improve student learning.
7. Collaborate with other professionals on instructional policy, curriculum development, and staff development.

For assistance in deciding which online program fits your goals, request information or speak with an enrollment advisor by calling 1-866-492-5336. A list of international toll-free phone numbers is available for students outside the United States.